Baker proposes $18B transport bill
Would fund infrastructure initiatives
Gov. Charlie Baker is proposing an $18 billion investment in transportation infrastructure amid mounting criticism over regular breakdowns at the MBTA and failures at the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
“We understand that our residents are frustrated by congested roads. And we understand that for MBTA and commuter rail riders, the system is only as good as the last time their trip was delayed,” Baker said.
“We are committed to making faster progress on these issues because they matter to us.”
Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito unveiled the transportation bond bill Thursday, which includes a $2,000 per-employee tax credit for employers who encourage telecommuting and remote working, increasing designated bus lanes and creating a new $50 million program designed to reduce bottlenecks on roadways.
“This legislation lays out the tools that will allow us to move faster to deliver a transportation system that our riders deserve,” Polito said.
The bill includes $5.695 billion to update the MBTA, $150 million to pave state roads, $20 million for the Complete Street Funding Program and $70 million for the Municipal Small Bridge Program.
The bill expands the special revenue bond Rail Enhancement Program to spend $2.7 billion on the MBTA over the next 10 years in addition to Baker’s five-year capital plan. It also allows $4 billion to be spent over the next eight years on bridge preservation and reconstruction.